If you saw me working out at the gym there is a 95% chance you'd see me performing a variety of compound exercises in a circuit style with little to no rest in between exercises. One reason is that my free time is very limited these days with a busy toddler running around, work engagements, house duties, etc. The main reason, however, is that I'm keenly aware of just how beneficial these exercises are for my physical fitness. Before we delve into the "why you should be doing this", lets pause to understand exactly what a compound exercise is.

This recipe transports me back to my childhood. The smell, the taste, the vegetables all remind me of long summer days on the farm. If I close my eyes while eating this ratatouille I can almost feel myself in the garden as a young girl with my sisters and mom pulling zucchini and squash from the vine, snapping peas and digging up potatoes as a Steve Miller Band or Heart record (as in an actual record) plays in the background. Those were the days of my youth.

Fun fact: did you know that your skin is the largest organ of the body? Adults carry roughly eight pounds and 22 square feet of it (National Geographic). Crazy, right? While our skin might not seem as important as organs like our heart or lungs it actually plays a very important role. Think about it: it keeps our organs intact and makes us look presentable. It provides protection and acts as a barrier to our muscles and organs guarding against extreme temperatures, sunlight, and harmful chemicals.

Is my obsession with soup becoming apparent? I'm not sure how many total recipes I've posted and how many of them are soups and stews, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is at least, 50%. I've been making pureed soups and now stews with chunks of veggies since last Friday when my hubby had a few wisdom teeth removed. I forgot how challenging it can be to eat an all liquid diet. I think he's been rotating between oatmeal, smoothies, and soups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Poor guy!